"All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
If you are choosing to participate at home only, you can set aside an hour a week to complete the video and questions, or you can break it up into 15-30 minutes a few times during the week.
I added some questions for personal prayer for anyone wanting to reflect a bit more on the Paschal Mystery this week!
This was our last class together : (
Here is the trailer for Season 2: Living the Faith
If you are interested in continuing let me know. I glanced and was intrigued so if you guys are interested, I will be happy to continue with you. Let me know if the same time is best and I will look at the calendar. Feel free to invite a friend!
WELCOME to WEEK TEN!
What happens after we die? We’ve been asking that question since the dawn of time. We have archaeological evidence that the earliest humans buried their dead with items indicating a hope for
an afterlife. In modern times, a Google search for “life after death” comes up with nearly two BILLION results! Books that discuss “near death” experiences proliferate on Amazon.com. With a mixture of curiosity, fear, and hope, all of us long to know what happens after death.
an afterlife. In modern times, a Google search for “life after death” comes up with nearly two BILLION results! Books that discuss “near death” experiences proliferate on Amazon.com. With a mixture of curiosity, fear, and hope, all of us long to know what happens after death.
Of course, no human knows the exact details of what happens when the curtain of life on this earth draws shut, but as Christians we have One Who Has Gone Before Us in the person of Jesus, whose death and resurrection shed light on what awaits us. The Church has long taught that prayerful consideration of the Four Last Things—death, judgment, heaven, and hell—is an essential part of our growth and maturation as Christians. Unless and until we take these things seriously, our life here on earth will lack meaning and focus. It’s only when we consider the decisions we make in the light of eternity that our entire lives begin to make sense and our relationship with God can come to full maturity.
1. You may view the Participant Guide below. I have additional printed copies available, just ask me for one. Session Ten appears on pages 70-75.
2. Watch the video below -
- Watch the full video at once: 45 min.
- You may prefer to break the viewing into 2 parts:
- Part One 15 min;
- Part Two 30 min
The Last Things: What Happens After We Die?
Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained | Season 1 | Episode 10 | 41min
What does the Church really teach about death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell? It's time to separate the myths from the reality.
3. After watching the video, take 5-10 min to reflect on the questions on page 71-72 of your participant guide.
4. Pages 72-73 in the participant guide contains 3 questions designed to Call us to Conversion. Take 15 minutes to pray and answer these questions.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL PRAYER THIS WEEK
Spend a few moments reflecting on what the Catholic Church teaches about the Last Things. Write down your thoughts and reflections for the following questions:
Spend a few moments reflecting on what the Catholic Church teaches about the Last Things. Write down your thoughts and reflections for the following questions:
1. In the words of a traditional Catechism, “God made us to know him, to love him, and to serve him in this world, and to be happy with him forever in heaven.” As we go through our lives, the single most important question we need to ask in light of eternity is “How can we know, love, and serve God?”
If we want our lives on earth to have meaning, we need to explore this question in depth. What do you think it means to know God? What does it mean to love God? What does it mean to serve God? What is one way this week that you can get to know God better? To love him more deeply? To serve him more completely? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance—and courage—to follow through on your commitment.
2. Reflect on the following quote from the Ash Wednesday liturgy: “Remember, man, that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” How does this quote make you feel? Why do you think that the Church asks us to reflect on this statement at the beginning of Lent? How might this prayer help you focus more on what is truly important in this life?
3. The week’s commitment is to take some time to look over your life, your priorities, the way you spend your days. Is your life moving toward Jesus or away from Him? How would your life be different if you were truly making all your decisions in the light of your eternal destiny?
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”